ND Filters

[Colin Southern]

As well as making up with additional weight and cost. I personally find the 70-200mm is not ideal for shooting in a small studio on a crop frame sensor (I can't get back far enough without hitting a wall)

The solution is obvious then - get a FF camera and a bigger studio

In all seriousness, I'd be OK with in in my 8 x 10m studio on a crop-factor camera, for my style of shooting, anything much smaller would probably be a game-changer. I still think it shouldn't put folks off though -- it's an essential lens in any collection, but should never be the only one. Even in a bigger studio on a FF I can still need wider than 70mm and for those occasions (surprise surprise) I just use something wider than 70mm.

[Colin Southern]

Colin- AJ is very pretty and photogenic. She looks to be around 15 or 16? At that age they don't like their looks anyway. Nice shot. White board used as fill or straight out of the camera?

Hi Al,

Yep - typical teenager.

[William W]

I still think it shouldn't put folks off though -- it [the 70 to 200 zoom] is an essential lens in any collection, but should never be the only one.

I have NO idea why any Photographer would be happy buying one 70 to 200 zoom - when there is the option to buy a set of - 85; 100; 135 and 200 Primes, instead.

Have a nice weekend!

WW

(PS – Does CiC management have the power of banning Members?)

[Colin Southern]

I have NO idea why any Photographer would be happy buying one 70 to 200 zoom - when there is the option to buy a set of - 85; 100; 135 and 200 Primes, instead.

Have a nice weekend!

WW

Sh*t stirrer

Primes would have the added advantage of being much sharper too

(PS – Does CiC management have the power of banning Members?)

Have a guess

[William W]

I'll keep the stirring to a moderate level, and only occasionally, then

[8ball]

Colin- I had a feeling sneaky feeling there was more than one source based on other portraits you have submitted. Daughter #2 needs to be on the payroll. What a nice assistant. Yes I can see how enthused AJ is "Dad do I relly have to be here?" .

[8ball]

Colin- There are many who have their opinions and I respect them all and Bill gave his. That being said I look to those who photos do inspire me and see what they use and what procedures, (i.e. flashes; umbrellas and reflectors).

Charles Colton said "Imitation is sincerest form of flatery". I have to choose the equipment that best suits my purse and that gives me results I can be happy with. When I travel on business trips, I'm cautious on what I carry becaus I must justify excess baggage fees, so I look at the one thing that can do many things I need well. Maybe for Bill, those three lenses work well for him. They would not work well for me.

I hope I didn't stir a hornets nest with my questions, but if I don't ask, I won't learn.

[nimitzbenedicto]

hornet's nest.......

Well, ever since I lost my ND, I discovered the gradient tool in gimp and now - LR4.3, seems to do well . Especially for landscapes.

Thanks

[Colin Southern]

Colin- I had a feeling sneaky feeling there was more than one source based on other portraits you have submitted. Daughter #2 needs to be on the payroll. What a nice assistant. Yes I can see how enthused AJ is "Dad do I relly have to be here?" .

Usually it just comes down to bribes ...

And yes - I only shoot portraits outside without flash on the rarest of occasions. People often praise the virtues of "natural light" but I find that it's usually more limiting than enlightening. It's not that it's hard to get *A* good picture using only natural light, but much harder to get *THE* picture you want using on it. So I just don't bother -- I've got the gear so I just use it.

[Colin Southern]

Well, ever since I lost my ND, I discovered the gradient tool in gimp and now - LR4.3, seems to do well . Especially for landscapes.

Thanks

Just keep in mind that there's a big difference between using GNDs on the camera and doing it in post production. A GND on camera compresses the dynamic range of the scene so you can increase the exposure (and thus reduce noise) by as many stops as your filter is, whereas doing it in post-production you need to expose for the brightest portion of the scene (that the GND would normally be attenuating) at the expense of shadow noise.

Personally I never rely on digital GNDs for anything more than retouching.

[Colin Southern]

Colin- There are many who have their opinions and I respect them all and Bill gave his. That being said I look to those who photos do inspire me and see what they use and what procedures, (i.e. flashes; umbrellas and reflectors).

Charles Colton said "Imitation is sincerest form of flatery". I have to choose the equipment that best suits my purse and that gives me results I can be happy with. When I travel on business trips, I'm cautious on what I carry becaus I must justify excess baggage fees, so I look at the one thing that can do many things I need well. Maybe for Bill, those three lenses work well for him. They would not work well for me.

I hope I didn't stir a hornets nest with my questions, but if I don't ask, I won't learn.

Hi Al,

Sorry - what you probably don't know is that Bill and I go waaaaay back and are friends outside of CiC. Bill was just stirring the pot with that post - he wasn't being serious

[8ball]

Oh okay, I didn't want to start any animosity here.

[8ball]

Colin - Thanks for the tip that's how I learn.

[Colin Southern]

Oh okay, I didn't want to start any animosity here.

I'm sure you won't - it was just a little private/public joke between Bill & me

[8ball]

Thank you Nigel, a very interesting video.